Food industry execs to gather for 35th WMU conference

March 15, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- Food industry executives from around the nation
will converge at Western Michigan University Monday and Tuesday,
March 27 and 28, to discuss the new industry order created by
the rapid consolidation of the food industry and the emergence
of grocery-laden super stores.

"A New Millennium: A New Industry Order" is the title
of the 35th annual Food Marketing Conference to be held at WMU's
Bernhard Center. More than 500 food executives are expected at
the event, which features speakers from such industry heavyweights
as Wal*Mart Stores, Borden Foods, SUPERVALU and the Kellogg Co.
The conference opens with a reception and dinner program beginning
at 6 p.m. Monday and concludes at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

"There has been a tremendous amount of change in the food
industry over the last five years," says conference coordinator
Dr. Frank M. Gambino, associate professor of marketing and adviser
to WMU's Food Marketing Program. "Retailers, wholesalers
and brokers are all consolidating at a rapid pace and the emergence
of the super center format by Wal*Mart, Kmart and Target has increased
the pressure on all retailers. It is increasingly difficult for
smaller independents to remain competitive in the face of such
powerful competition. The shifting balance of power is dramatically
altering the food industry."

Featured speaker Michael W. Wright, chairman, president and
chief executive officer of SUPERVALU, the world's largest food
wholesaler, will address the conference crowd at 8:45 p.m. Monday.
His speech will focus on "Industry Consolidation and the
Impact of Food Retailing."

Tuesday's three featured speakers include Peter M. Dunn, president
and chief operating officer of Borden Foods, who will lead off
at 8:15 a.m. with "Building a Great Food Company," a
discussion of how businesses can survive major restructuring and
emerge as stronger organizations by becoming more consumer focused;
Michael Sansolo, senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute,
who will prompt attendees to "Imagine What the Future May
Hold" at 9 a.m. with a futuristic view of what the industry
might look like in the next decade; and Top Markets President
and CEO Steve Odland, who will close the conference with his 2:15
p.m. speech on "Making Food Retailing a Fun and Exciting
Experience."

Also on Tuesday, a series of 10 workshops will focus on issues
of concern to the industry, ranging from change management and
employee diversity to marketing on the Internet. Topics and speakers
include:

Awards ceremonies each day will honor top industry executives
who have contributed to WMU's Food Marketing Program. On Monday
evening, 1962 WMU alumnus Doug Carolan, president and CEO of Associated
Wholesale Grocers Inc. of Kansas City, will receive the first
WMU Food Marketing Outstanding Alumni Award. The following afternoon,
Kellogg Company Chairman of the Board Arnold G. Langbo of Battle
Creek, will be honored with the 2000 Adrian Trimpe Distinguished
Service Award.

The annual food marketing conference is sponsored by WMU's
Food Marketing Program in the Haworth College of Business and
by Sigma Phi Omega, a professional business fraternity. All proceeds
from the conference support food marketing scholarships and program
operations at the University.

The cost of attending the conference for both days is $250.
Single day registrations also are available at reduced prices.
Reservations and information can be obtained by calling the conference
hotline at (616) 387-2132.